Mandela’s Complex Jewish Ties

South African leader's long relationship with community veered between supportive and hostile.

Nelson Mandela’s amazing attitude of reconciliation after his release in 1990 from 27 years in prison reassured very nervous South African Jews – and whites generally – that after living with “packed suitcases under the bed” during apartheid, they had a future here after all.

Most people had always realized that apartheid simply couldn’t go on forever, no matter how brutal the apartheid regime was, and that the whole thing might end in a racial bloodbath. Under Mandela, who died Thursday, Dec. 5, in Johannesburg at 95 after a long illness, there would be no bloodbath. He invited all South Africans to help build a “rainbow nation.”

During the seven decades after the young Mandela, came in 1941 to Johannesburg from the Eastern Cape seeking work, his numerous interactions with Jews ranged between supportive and downright hostile. One of his early encounters was when Jewish attorney Lazar Sidelsky gave him his first job in his law firm. Later, many of the white comrades who fought apartheid with him were Jews with whom he formed close bonds. Of the 17 activists arrested at Liliesleaf, Rivonia, in July 1963, five were whites and all of them were Jews.

Yet, as with other white groups, only a tiny percentage of South African Jews fought apartheid, and Mandela had little contact with them during the years of struggle. The Jewish mainstream was largely apathetic and went along with it, while not actively supporting it – Jews almost always voted for the liberal opposition parties in elections. Mandela’s name, however, was scarcely mentioned in Jewish circles during his imprisonment – the image painted by the regime of him as a brutal “terrorist” best kept locked away always hovered over the conversations.

There is also discomfort among South African Jews at the fact that Percy Yutar, a respected member of an Orthodox shul in Johannesburg, was a government prosecutor in the Rivonia Trial in 1964 at which Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment. True to his generous spirit, however, Mandela invited Yutar to lunch just months after being inaugurated as the South African president, and made a point of publicly shaking his hand, thus sending a message that the bitter past must not be allowed to prevent a better future.

Released from prison, Mandela engaged vigorously with mainstream Jewish organizations and leading Jewish philanthropists and businessmen.

During the anti-apartheid struggle, his interaction with Jews was primarily with individual lawyers, journalists and activists. Then, after President F.W. de Klerk announced on Feb. 2, 1990 that the ban on the African National Congress was being lifted and Mandela would be released from prison, a new period began and Mandela engaged vigorously with mainstream Jewish organizations and leading Jewish philanthropists and businessmen.

Among those organizations was the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Jewry’s umbrella representative body) at whose National Conference in 1993 he was the keynote speaker; yet hanging in the background was always the discomforting recollection that during apartheid the SAJBD had adhered to a formal “non-political” policy, saying its job was to look after Jewish interests, not be involved in South African politics. Such a posture amid apartheid’s brutality, with Jews living lives of huge privilege because of the system, had weighty moral implications.

Apartheid posed difficult questions for South African Jewry: What was Judaism’s duty to the oppressed among whom they lived? What had Jews learned from their own history of persecution? And did they have the courage to stand up against apartheid when, in this virtual police state, it would invite retribution from the regime?

Today, the Jewish mainstream points with pride to the Jewish activists who fought bravely with Mandela, many of whom were banned, jailed or forced into exile. This has provoked the retort that Jews who did nothing are basking in their reflected glory.

Mandela’s enthusiastic embrace of the broader contacts with the Jewish community post-apartheid included community development organization MaAfrika Tikkun, of which he became patron-in-chief. Ma’Afrika Tikkun, founded by Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris and businessmen Herby Rosenberg and Bertie Lubner, was a proud example of the Jewish community’s work among the underprivileged.

Right at the outset in the 1940s, Sidelsky, Mandela’s employer, insisted he complete his law studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, where Jewish students became his friends. Some later defended him in the two high-profile trials in which he was an accused – the 1956 Treason Trial and the 1964 Rivonia Trial.

The defense team in the Treason Trial in which 156 people, including Mandela, stood accused, was headed by advocate Isie Maisels, a respected member of the Johannesburg Bar. Another Jewish advocate, Sydney Kentridge, dealt particularly with Mandela as his counsel. Kentridge later recalled: “I could somehow tell from the many talks I had with him that this man was a leader. Of course I couldn’t have guessed he would become the leader he, in fact, became.” By the time the trial ended in 1961, all defendants had been found not guilty.

Central to Mandela’s contacts with Jews in the new South Africa was Glasgow-born Chief Rabbi Harris, who came to the country in 1988 when the apartheid grip on the society was already loosening. The two became close friends – Mandela referred to Harris as “my rabbi.” Their friendship threw into relief the question: Why had so few rabbis – the conveyors of Jewish values – played a role in resisting apartheid?

“We are sorry you are having trouble with your eyes, but we want you to know that there is nothing wrong with your vision.”

Mandela had eye problems from working in lime quarries during his imprisonment, which his Jewish doctor, Percy Amoils, corrected. Rabbi Harris commented at the time: “We are sorry you are having trouble with your eyes, but we want you to know that there is nothing wrong with your vision.”

When Rabbi Harris appeared at the Faith Communities hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1997 on behalf of the SAJBD, he apologized for the Jewish community’s “inactivity and silence” during apartheid. Other white groups had done no better, but Rabbi Harris’ words caused some soul-searching among South African Jews.

In 1985 a movement called “Jews for Social Justice” was started for social action against apartheid, supported by Rabbis Norman Bernhard and Ady Assabi. Again, as the reconciler, a few months after his release from prison, Mandela attended a Shabbat service at Temple Shalom in Johannesburg at Rabbi Assabi’s invitation. Just prior to that, Mandela had appeared on television warmly embracing PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat at Namibia’s Independence Day celebrations, provoking some enraged members of Assabi’s congregation to hurl insults at him for inviting Mandela.

Another of Mandela’s enduring friendships was with feisty Helen Suzman, the acclaimed Jewish politician who fought the apartheid system endlessly within the Chambers of Parliament. In the days when she was the sole member of the Liberal-Progressive Party in Parliament, she was the first member of Parliament to visit the prisoner Mandela on Robben Island and take an interest in the plight of the political convicts. He called her the voice of the true opposition. After apartheid he remained loyal to their friendship even after she had been almost totally marginalized by the country’s new political leadership. Suzman commented: “I have been airbrushed out of history by the new regime – but Mandela still visits me.”

With South African Jews so passionately Zionist, the question of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would inevitably come up between them and Mandela. He accepted Israel’s right to exist within the 1967 borders and also promoted a Palestinian state. Instinctively, though, he remained closer to Palestinians than Israelis, particularly given the close links during apartheid between the ANC and the PLO. He saw the Palestinians as similar to South African blacks in their plight.

His proposals were regarded as “simplistic” by both Israelis and Palestinians.

However, he again showed his greatness when in 1995 he attended a ceremony at the Oxford Synagogue in Johannesburg in honor of murdered Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. In October 1999, he visited Israel, accompanied by Jewish community leaders. The trip was intended to repair the political damage caused by Israeli links with apartheid South Africa. Israel, although not involved in apartheid violence, had cooperated in military matters with the government.

Mandela proposed a plan for Middle East peace, saying the Arabs must recognize the State of Israel within the 1967 borders and Israel must give up territory for peace. His proposals were regarded as “simplistic” by both Israelis and Palestinians. In Gaza, he met with Arafat and, while in Israel, he visited Rabin’s grave and went to Yad Vashem.

Now Mandela is gone. What is his legacy for the country, the world – and for Jews? Certainly in South Africa there is no one in the current leadership who even remotely approaches Mandela’s visionary stature. And in the Middle East? If only a Mandela could emerge from either the Israeli or the Palestinian side to do there what Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela did for South Africa.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 74

(43)
Andrés Rosendo,
December 26, 2013 12:34 PM

Great article

Although they could have done more, Jews had a very different reaction to other people's oppression than the average reaction of European gentiles during the Holocaust, for example. Blacks suffered oppression in America and South Africa. In both countries their respective Jewish communities fought for them. The Jewish community of South Africa was a victim of Afrikaner nationalist discrimination, although of course not the same kind of oppression suffered by blacks. Many leading Afrikaner politicians publicly apologized to Jews for the antisemitism they suffered. I know it because I met many South African Jews when I was in Israel. Not a single one of them had racist feelings and all of them loved Madiba as a great example of a leader, both for their country and for the rest of the world.

On the other hand, Israel-South Africa relations were pragmatic, not ideological. Mandela supported Castro dictatorship because Cuba fought against apartheid South Africa in Angola, but I don't see anyone judging Madiba for that. There are many countries around world which have (or had in the past) bilateral relations with dictatorships, tyrannies and oppressive regimes (I can think of Europe's relations with several repressive islamist regimes), but you are pointing only one of them, which is double standard. Mandela himself, although the ANC had good relations with the PLO during the Cold War for political reasons, always respected Israel and never supported the absurd comparison of the apartheid with the only democracy in the Middle East.

I find it curious that the author makes no mention of Mandela's single most important Jewish connection: Joe Slovo (Yossel Slovo), Gen Sec of the South African Communist Party, later Mandela's Housing Minister. Granted, Slovo was not pro-Israel, but he did get a Jewish burial when he died.

(40)
Anonymous,
December 13, 2013 5:05 AM

While your article was beautifully written and the facts are both clear and correct, I feel that the subtext that Mandela "forgave" the Jews and kept showing his great spirit by attending to the community and his jewish friends is too simplistic. I also, as a South African, do not feel that it is either fair or correct to compare Israel to the South African apartheid regime. What the middle eastern conflict requires is not a Mandela. The situation there is much much more complex and completely different to the South African situation. It is much more than a clear cut case of one nation oppressing another, and of an injustice againt one nation that must be fought. This is precisely the argument against israel and one that actually undermines the suffering of apartheid victims. Many Jews fought alongside Mandela in the apartheid struggle. It was not so much about sticking up for him, as it was about joining the struggle and endangering there lives and families as well. Many Jews were exiled or spent time in prison for their actions.

(39)
Albert Hache,
December 12, 2013 3:55 AM

Let's not forget

Throughout their history, Jews have lived under apartheid, often deadly . They know exactly what it means .

(38)
David,
December 11, 2013 3:32 PM

mandela no friend of Israel

Mandela was no friend of of Israel, but was fanatically pro-Arab he, along with the appalling Tutu never had a good word to say for Israel. Furthermore, the writer of the article is a typical leftist. It is not for Israel to come up with some leftist leader to make concessions to the Arabs to bring peace, but Arabs have to accept that Israel is there to stay, but they never will because their religion does not permit it. They do not want an independent Palestinian state because if that was all they wanted they could have had it long time ago. They want Israel destroyed and lots of dead Jews.Aish should not publish left-wing propaganda

Melanie,
December 15, 2013 7:47 PM

Article not left wing propoganda

Mandela was not fanatical about anything, and neither is Tutu appalling. Maybe they were not pro-Israel, but they are both extremely courageous men who fought terrible injustices in South Africa. I found the article a true reflection of what went on in South Africa in those dreadful times. David shows his ignorance by condemning it as left wing propaganda.

(37)
Anonymous,
December 11, 2013 2:11 PM

No land for peace

Simply put..anyone who tells Israel to give up land for peace is an enemy..no country in the world does such a thing.

(36)
kohinsky robert,
December 10, 2013 8:41 PM

truth about mandela

I am providing a link , if you want truth http://www.wnd.com/2013/12/nelson-mandela-was-a-radical-marxist/#gi1ksBfG2AsMst3P.99 calling a spade , a heart is foolish , this man's ideals are very speculative , and his true self , well lets just white wash it all away , perhaps hitler will be glorified after islam rules the world , Lets wake up people and speak truth to power , history repeats , the jews only friend is the God of Israel and some bible believing and following individuals . I was in the doctor's waiting room the other day and a discussion came up , i was speaking truths of torah , when this individual who was listening in, a ( ?) who knows what faith if any ,gave me a glaring and menacing look , saying praise allah, if this kind of stuff exist still and it does , why propangandize a bad individual as good , is a lemon now a passion fruit , I think not , did he (mandela ) change , old age set in , but the heart is desparately wicked , only God knows , lets hope those years in prison helped him , but seeing the world loves him I think not

(35)
Jonathan Danilowitz,
December 10, 2013 1:09 PM

Was Mandela an anti-Semite?

In 1962, when Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress associates were arrested and tried for treason in the infamous “Rivonia Trial” (the organization tried to overthrow apartheid), there were seven white people arrested with him – all of them Jewish. The South African Jewish community supported the anti-apartheid struggle in numbers way beyond their percentage of the minority white population of the country. And in fact, when Mr. Mandela completed his legal studies at the University of Fort Hare, it was only a Jewish-owned Johannesburg law firm that accepted him as an articled clerk so that he could get his hands-on training and obtain his full law degree.

Nelson Mandela never forgot the support he received from the Jewish community.

So how come so many people think Mandela was an anti-Semite? True, he later befriended and supported the crazed Muamar Gaddafi in Libya, and the terrorist Yasser Arafat, much to his supporters’ surprise. The answer is that because he was so revered as a peace loving liberal, the Arab world craved his support. When they did not get it, they “created” it. The internet is flooded with fake Nelson Mandela “quotes” in which he embraces the Palestinians and blames Israel for all the Arab woes. It was Nazi Germany’s Minister of Propaganda who quickly understood and adopted the anti-Semitic policy of “If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it”. Many Germans came to believe that the Jews were the source of all Germany’s problems, and many people (who should know better) have come to believe that Mandela said that the Jews are the source of all the Arabs’ problems.

I believe that the late, great Nelson Mandela was too wise, too astute and too human to have been anti-Semitic. May he rest in peace.

Carl,
December 10, 2013 6:48 PM

Thank you, you have helped me see this in a different light.

Rob Porter,
December 10, 2013 6:59 PM

Not so fast

Jonathan, Mandela did not "later befriend and support the crazed Muamar Gaddafi in Libya and the terrorist Yasser Arafat. Right after being released from prison, during a visit to Zimbabwe he met with some of this crud. In a photo at that tiime I saw him hugging the grubby little Arafat.

Mandela supported the PLO and Arafat, and considered their cause against Israel just. And he was not peaceful. He started the MK terrorist organization that killed civilians, so please, don't give us this stuff about his being "revered as a peace loving liberal". As it Arafat was attracted to a "peace loving liberal"! He wanted to destroy Israel. Nothing has changed.

Evident is that Mandela was not sufficiently "wise", "astute", "human" and driven by moral impulse to always see goodness when he saw it and dregs of humanity when he saw that. In some cases he gravitated to dregs. How else could he have stayed in the ANC?

(34)
Yaakov,
December 10, 2013 9:30 AM

Two State Sol'n Already in Place

It would seem that the author is promoting giving away more land which is a clear violation of Torah law. Furthermore, every time we make more concessions we get more violence and hatred in return. Rewarding bad behavior only encourages more bad behavior. Common sense. Also, important to note is that the two state solution was already implemented when almost 78% of the original British Mandate land was given to Arabs (Transjordan which then became Jordan). How many more Jew hating, anti-semetic states can be carved out of our precious little country?

(33)
Robin,
December 10, 2013 5:57 AM

Mandela was good for South African blacks. That's it. He should have minded his own business, internationally. For me as a Jew he is not worth remembering. He did a lot of damage to Israel's image and for this he can rot in hell which he is probably doing already.

(32)
Anonymouse,
December 9, 2013 8:07 PM

the road to H*ll is paved with Good intentions

a peculiar payback always waits for those who "help" the Blacks- in SA we can see- the life after apartheid is racist towards whites - USA blacks who we helped get the vote hate us now- Mandela and communist Jews may have LOVE between- the rest of us- not so much- the man who fought bigotry is aligned with all the world's worst jewhaters- like Carter - he became a bigot

(31)
Hilel Salomon,
December 9, 2013 6:43 PM

Silly Handwinging

What pap!! The number of S. African Jews who opposed apartheid was larger than any other group within the White community in that country. Many Jews were also afraid of the overt anti-Semitism within the Afrikaner community. Throughout the world, American and European Jewry opposed apartheid in larger numbers than any other group of Caucasians. In addition to being extremely anti-Israel, Mandela allowed many of his associates to spout hateful comments about Jews. Yes, he was a courageous leader of his people, and yes, he was unjustly imprisoned. If you want to nit pick, compare his treatment in prison to the fates of those in concentration camps or in the Gulags. He was neither starved, beaten, and, of course, not cremated.

Amnon,
December 10, 2013 4:31 PM

Please Substantiate Your Claims?

Mr. Salomon, I am aware that Mandela was not a friend of Israel, and I am far from defending him. I am simply a truth seeker learning about Mandela's relations with Jews and Israel. Respectfully, could you provide resources and/or supporting evidence to substantiate the following claims you made: 1) The number of S. African Jews who opposed apartheid was larger than any other group within the White community in that country. 2) Throughout the world, American and European Jewry opposed apartheid in larger numbers than any other group of Caucasians.3) Mandela was extremely anti-Israel.4) That PRACTICALLY, Mandela could have prevented many of his associates to spout hateful comments about Jews. Thank you.

HILEL SALOMON,
December 14, 2013 2:25 AM

Lots of evidence on all counts

Fair enough. The seven caucasians arrested with Mandela were all Jews!! His lawyers were Jewish as well. American Jews are -overwhelmingly democratis and liberal. Synagogies and Jewish Centers made a great deal about opposing apartheid. This was true in England and generally throughout Eyurope. As for his anti-Iarael positions in the UN, and in other international venues, there is an enormous amount of documentation. Google "Mandela and Israel" and you'll have it.

Rob Porter,
December 10, 2013 6:06 PM

Overall I like you post, but Mandela was not unjustly imprisoned. He started and led Mkhonte We Sizwe that conducted acts of sabotage and terror in which civilians died, and he colluded with the Soviet Union, a hostile foreign power, in an effort to overthrow the government. Yes, he did it in an effort to overthrow an unjust system, but it was still an act of treason for which he could have been executed.

(30)
Anonymous,
December 9, 2013 6:29 PM

Why the Jewish self-flagilation by some commenters?

Jewish Liberalism and affinity for victim politics resulting is in my view hardly a matter to elicit pride!

Mr. Nelson Mandela is surely a study in transcendence and capability to negotiate life in ways that is beyond most people! Jews reached out to him, Jewish lawyers in fact were instrumentel in his release from imprisonment! It remains nevertheless important to recognize when a cause celeb lends itself to exploitation by such with political agenda. Communists for example who are quite adroit at manipulating the public mind gaining truth in naive and gullable peoples' born in democracies and yet serving masters for whom democracy is anathema!

(29)
Stanley Tee,
December 9, 2013 3:41 PM

Ronnie Kasrils????

Why is there no mention of this member of Mandela's and subsequent South African cabinets? A Jew, Kasrils is one of the biggest Israel haters in the country. His writings border on the anti-Semitic. Mandela not only tolerated this, he must have encouraged it for it to have been so blatant.

(28)
noam,
December 9, 2013 11:16 AM

I think South Africans have a very different -- perhaps broader --view

Jews outside of SA look at Mandela thru a narrow lens -- his support of israel, or lack thereof. There is alot more to this complex, imperfect leader. No he wasn't perfect, but he wasn't a Hitler either. He's a mix of good and bad.Click here to see rabbi warren goldstein's memorial tribute that he gave yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9zyasjfqI0&feature=youtu.be

tamiym,
December 9, 2013 12:27 PM

Thank You!

The memorial service was beautiful and it was great that you shared it with us who are beni yisrael, but not part of those circles and on the shores of the united states.

Michael Garcia,
December 9, 2013 5:53 PM

The True Mandela

Hey NoamI am Jewish myself and my family and I are observant Jews.Mandela did not go to prison because he was a good man. During the 1980s, I found it offensive that South Africa was BRANDED an apartheid Nation. Nothing could be farther from the truth, except to believe Israeli soldiers kill innocent Palestinians. My point is that Mandela like the other 156 treasonous people should have been EXECUTED. South Africa has stood by Israel, while the nations of the world (including the U.S.) vilianized South Africa. Today in America we have another Treasonous leader. He and his family lives in the White House. obama has continuously snubbed his nose at P.M. of Israel--Bibi. obama has accomplish nothing but CHAOS in our nation. Yet you and other Jews don't care. We as a nation had a chance to have a real leader in the White house in 2012. Mitt Romney has started numerous businesses, while every business venture obama has started has failed miserably. Mitt Romney is squeaky clean in the sense of his private and political life. obama on the other hand his links to domestic and foreign terrorists. We have 4 dead Americans that died in Bengazi and the obama administration has yet to find the cowards. As a people and nation no matter what color, we have better wake up and smell the hummus. If we don't wake up, there will be no United States of America. I doubt if my email will be allowed to be view on this forum.

(27)
Anonymous,
December 9, 2013 8:44 AM

Jews can be wrong too

Perhaps we should look beyond ourselves and recognize we don't always have to agree with popular ideas in our jewish circles. After all, jews can be wrong too. Any righteous person is not obligated to agree with mainstream jewish ideas, and should not be labelled anti-Semite when they disagree. The apartheid era is a great example of a time most jews failed to stand up for justice and righteousness, a righteous person would in this situation oppose the "jewish stance" and must not be labelled an anti-Semite.

Rob Porter,
December 9, 2013 10:37 PM

The supposed not standing up for justice and righteousness as you probably see it, would have entailed handing over control of the country to a people who until the Mandela era had mostly made a dismal mess of ruling their countries, Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and many others. Within even whites who regarded apartheid a rotten system there was apprehension over releasing the reigns and accepting majority rule. Africa's general ineptitude in running countries played a big role in attitudes of white South Africans. The chaos after withdrawal of Portugal from Angola did nothing to allay fears, and then the Zimbabwe fiasco added to that reluctance to accept change.

(26)
Martin T. Lenk,
December 9, 2013 7:58 AM

Mandela was a great leader, few people after being unjustly being imprisonedfor 27 years, would have reacted the way he did.That shows what a great soul he had.

Have a great day!

(25)
Paul,
December 9, 2013 6:31 AM

Thoughtful article

When the story is finally told, the one on the relationship between Jews and Africans will in my considered view be peppered by ambiguity. Africans have, like Jews, suffered enormously throughout history. But, and I am glad this essay does not ignore this fact, Jews have more often than not been the enablers of the African's humiliation. Africans are currently being hounded out of Israel and yet Jews were and still are strangers in other people's land. In my considered view, Mandela's reconciliatory actions since being released from prison are laudable but leave a yawning gap crying to be filled in the relationship between the African and the Jew.

stanley,
December 9, 2013 10:08 AM

Israel's relationship with Africa

You have made a valid point. I want Israelis to answer this.

(24)
Tamiym,
December 9, 2013 6:15 AM

Remembering the Concept of Measure for Measure and Why We Celebrate Chanukah

Thank you very much; it was nice to hear that there were were some Jews who stood up for what was morally right. That does not make them self-hating Jews. We celebrate Chanukah because of the 12 who stood up against Helenism (and the majority of Helenistic Jews as well),not oil lasting in a temple for eight days. We recognize Pinchas for what he did while the majority of our ancestors either stood idly by or actively participated in the morally reprehensible conduct. We wandered in the wilderness and a generation was left to die because of the beliefs (or lack thereof) and works of the many. We lost both temples and are in exile in part because of (self) hatred and a lack of respect for each other. It was hatred of our own brothers that resulted in Yoseph being thrown in a pit, being left for dead and eventually being sold into slavery. We can not on the one hand and rightfully so state that what happened in Germany was wrong, and no doubt about it, it was wrong, while at the same time justify Israel's support of apartheid. Had Israel and the majority of South African (Caucasian) Jews been opposed to apartheid, instead of living privileged lives because it did not (directly) effect them, it quite possibly would not have spawned the mess that we live with in Israel now or if it did anyway, perhaps we would have a few more on our side. When you find that you are on the same side of the table with the likes Jesse Helms, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and the Washington based International Freedom Foundation among others, you need to get up from the table and leave or move to the other side. We need to avoid taking a horrible human tendency and making it the property of ancestry, I know that we do not have the level of understanding that HaShem has, but we do know that what we do is part of a seamless web and we can be as sparks of light. If we are children of light, let's live up to that credo and when we fail, take responsibility, do teshuva and move on.

(23)
Saul Bastomsky,
December 9, 2013 4:39 AM

Reconciliation

Mandela was motivated by a spirit of reconciliation above all. I was a "banned" person in South Africa and I have to admit that I still feel contempt and even hatred for those who so eagerly supported the policies of an apartheid and truly pro-Nazi regime. Mandela was above all this. As to the Jews in South Africa. Sifrin is quite right - most supported the regime, whether tacitly or actively.. Now they trumpet their opposition and hail those whom previously they regarded as an embarrassment.

(22)
Nancy,
December 9, 2013 3:31 AM

"Downright hostile?"

Where have you shown Mandela to be "downright hostile"? My reaction to the article was exactly the same as Brent Brotine's. (See comment #5 above.)

(21)
Anonymous,
December 9, 2013 1:47 AM

It seems to me he used Jews and was friendly when Jews could help him.otherwise he wasn't Israeli friend

(20)
Isabel,
December 9, 2013 12:18 AM

Helen Suzman and other Jewish freedom fighters.

There were many Jewish people in South Africa who fought against apartheid and other heinous laws. Maybe AISH could do an article on them. One of them was Helen Suzman, leader of the Progressive Party. She stood alone for many years fighting apartheid and the only woman.

(19)
Anonymous,
December 8, 2013 11:27 PM

good article - what is missing: Durbin confrence 2001 and letter to Friedman!

It is always easier to criticize ex post. Fact is Mandela supported the Arabs and Arafat while many Jews supported him. I still remember the Durbin conference in 2001 - what a disgrace ! And his patronizing letter to NY Times Thomas Friedman. Mandela was a great man, but no for us Jews and no for Medinat Israel. .

Suzanne,
December 10, 2013 6:20 AM

Absolutely correct

I wouldn't say that Mandela was great either. He curried up to many of the world's worst dictators.

(18)
j albeldas,
December 8, 2013 11:20 PM

Mandela was an angel

He task was to unite the nation. He did this and now he has been recalled to his master. His relationship with us Jews was pretty good. if not excellent. Today he is gone and our heart feels empty. As for his relationship with Israel, his relationship was no less perplex as we Jews have with it. A love for the land and what it stand for, an understanding that Israel is the homeland of the Jews, but a disagreement to the complicated occupation of another people ie the Palesinians!

(17)
Hannah,
December 8, 2013 10:34 PM

The reason why most Jews didn't take part in the struggle for Apartheid

Most articles skim over one fact: The reason Mandela went to jail. He was actively involved in the killing of many people. Thousands, in fact. Perhaps I don't speak for all the Jews in South Africa, but I for one didn't agree with the terrorist ways peace were sought. Ghandi has proved that one can win a protest peacefully. There is no reason why anyone should resort to violence and kill innocent people and children.

Anonymous,
December 9, 2013 1:06 PM

Did Mandela kill thousands?

Where is your evidence for that?

Suzanne,
December 10, 2013 4:39 PM

Mandela was put in jail for 27 years

for terrorism which resulted in the deaths of many people. He pleaded guilty to the charges and knew what he was doing as he was a trained lawyer. He was up to his neck with the Soviet Union and sided with the worst dictators in the world upon his release. His wife, "Winnie", is also being considered for murder charges.

(16)
Shosh,
December 8, 2013 9:59 PM

Seeds of peace

Pity his ability to love didn't rub off on Desmond Tuttu

(15)
Andy,
December 8, 2013 9:50 PM

an excellent article things are not black and white

Mandel was a leader in South Africa. I can't fault him for not supporting Israel any more than I can fault Israel for supporting the apartheid Gov't there.It's been stated that in int'l politics there are no friends, only interests. Seems naive to come down on Obama,Mandela and others for being sympathetic to the Palestinian's plight, particularly when many Jews both in Israel and the Diaspora feel similarly. Seems to me only when Jews are more united in agreement over the need for a Jewish State with secure borders in the land of Israel will the rest of the world be as well. At this point Israel keeps making concessions which is taken,probably correctly as weakness or guilt or both. Strong leadership based on Torah values seems to me the best antidote to the current situation.

(14)
Manny Flecker,
December 8, 2013 9:22 PM

Being Jewish in South Africa

Mr. Sifrin seems to have a different perspective in South Africa's Jewish community than I experienced in 1964 during Passover. I was invited to a Seder with the family of a friend and went shopping with them for the Seder. Before we left the store, all packages were covered up with any item that would not show that the rest of the contents were for anything Jewish or for the Seder. When we got home, the blinds were drawn down on the windows and, during the evening's Seder, the door was opened for Elijah for just a few seconds before being closed again. The fear of the Jewish community was palpable. The Dutch Reformed Church, the Afrikaner's church, was anything but hospitable towards the Jews. It reminded me of what I had heard about the Jews in Germany in the mid-30s. Given that, it is understandable that so few spoke out against Apartheid. That anyone actually did is all the more amazing and courageous. As an American white person, walking the Apartheid streets of Johannesburg and other cities left me feeling as if I was walking around under Sen. McCarthy's America - it was frightening, intimidating, and incredibly unjust.It is clear to me that Mr. Sifrin really doesn't understand what native Africans (and Asians who migrated there) had to live with and go through on a daily basis and how that might have created their views and actions.

Stanley Tee,
December 9, 2013 3:39 PM

Absolutely untrue

Either the people you stayed with were particularly paranoid, or you dreamed this entire event. I grew up in South Africa (born in 1953), so 1964 was definitely part of my life there. We lived very openly as Jews, worshipped in a brand new, large synagogue built quite openly, had no problem displaying our faith, celebrated Pesach openly, opened our doors for Elijah with no fears. I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

(13)
Rob Porter,
December 8, 2013 8:12 PM

South African conumdrum

As someone who for ten years in South Africa, 1977 to 1987, through newspapers spoke out against apartheid and government attitudes, I have some understanding of the "Jewish community’s “inactivity and silence” during apartheid. Like the silence of others some of it stemmed from deep apprehension over what would follow an end to apartheid and advent of black rule. Nowhere in Africa had black rule brought about competent, just, enduring democratic rule. In most cases what eventuated was chaos and economic collapse; Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and many other countries. Who would welcome that? The common expression about black African democracy was "One man, one vote, one time." Another impediment was driveling statements from the ANC in exile that reflected its Marxist convictions.

Sarah,
December 9, 2013 8:50 AM

Thank you for pointing this out, Mr. Porter.

Rob Porter,
December 10, 2013 4:38 PM

The risk

Hi Sarah, what I overlooked mentioning was the risk involved in speaking out against apartheid. There was a general and legitimate fear of consequences. I took that chance, came under surveillance, mail was opened and telephone bugged, but came to the conclusion that if you weren't linked to a communist organization you were left alone. Maybe I was just lucky. My mother thought I'd be shot.

Geoff Sifrin mentioned that Mandela had problems with his eyes. So did my wife and she wore a cover over one eye. One day we attended an exhibition at which Mandela spoke. We lined the way out when he left. Seeing my wife with an eye cover, he stopped to speak to her. And this was the president of the nation?

Geoff also mentioned Mandela's visit to Yad Vashem. A person who was part of the Jewish contingent accompanying Mandela told me that after this visit his companions could not find him. Eventually he was discovered in silent and solitary contemplation at the children's memorial.

(10)
Jerald Gould,
December 8, 2013 7:44 PM

He Walked Where Angels Feared To Tread !

Usually the greatness of a man is measured by society years later but he became a living legend while still alive . His greatest attribute was forgiveness, to leave the bitter past behind & endeavour for a better future ahead.. He strived for peaceful solutions in spite of almost unsurmountable odds & won ! He awoke a silent world to the plight of aparatheid & prevailed . He suffered the slings & arrows of outrageous injustices & like Martin Luther King & for his people ,overcame. His Soul Goes Marching On !

(9)
Anonymous,
December 8, 2013 7:40 PM

"Complex?" I don't think so.

"Complex"??Nelson Mandela was an outspoken supporter of bloodthirsty tyrants and terrorists. By his own repeated, enthusiastic declarations, his closest friends and allies in the world were Muammar Gaddafi, Yasser Arafat, and Fidel Castro, whom he called his "brothers". "Yasser Arafat [is] our friend and comrade... like us, fighting against a unique form of colonialism... If the truth alienates the Jewish community in South Africa, too bad."

That's about as straightforward as you can get!

(8)
Jonathan,
December 8, 2013 6:47 PM

Mandela was an Enemy of Israel

First of all Mandela was a communist, this is a fact, he was very vocal about it, he hated America for its capitalistic system and made it a point to be friends with Castro and Ghaddafi and Yasser Arafat whom he embraced time and time again. Mandela called Israel and I quote " a terrorist state " . He also called Israel "an apartheid State" and campaigned vigorously for an embargo against Israel which led to the famous Intifada. Mandela united all the Israel haters. Mandela was a terrorist not a freedom fighter , here is why, a Terrorist targets Civilians and Mandela killed and humiliated hundreds of innocent people in the same exact way the Palestinians do today. Mandela always made it clear that those who are the enemies of the Jews are not necessarily his enemies. In 1990, Mandela declared that “we do not regard the PLO as a terrorist organization". During a trip to Libya, Mandela declared that “we consider ourselves to be comrades in arms to the Palestinian Arabs in their struggle for the liberation of Palestine. What is sickening to me about this world wide Mandela love fest is that Jews honor him . Why are there so many ignorant self hating Jews in the world ? Is it cause they do not know and do not pay attention ? and just believe the media ? It's very troubling and sad to me. Mandela laid a wreath on the grave of Ayatollah Khomeini. When the terrorist Arafat died, Mandela called him “outstanding freedom fighter”. This is the man Obama lowered the American Flag for 10 consecutive days but he never lowered it once for Margaret Thatcher to give but one example. I am disappointed in my people, Jews are their worst enemy.

Melissa L,
December 8, 2013 7:48 PM

Very true Mandela was no friend of Israel and the Jews!

Anonymous,
December 8, 2013 8:53 PM

Wrong attitude

The Jewish world, Israel inclusive, had a role to play in the fight against apartheid, an opportunity which was not utilized. While a handful of Jews did their best, I believe the author captured it succintly when he said a lot of soul-searching ought to be done. Frankly, its a shame that Israel and Jews were not at the forefront of the anti-apartheid struggle. That being said, it is important to look forward and ensure that all other opportunities for tikkun olam do not turn out that same way...

Anonymous,
December 10, 2013 4:49 PM

The reason why a lot of people did not stand up to apartheid ...

was because they instinctually were worried that the end of it would spell the end of South Africa as a viable country. Under white rule, South Africa was prosperous. Yes, there were injustices that occurred which shouldn't have but not nearly as many as what occurred after the fall of apartheid. Today South Africa is one of the most dangerous places in the world. Many whites live behind security bars and Aids, rape, murder and mayhem are everywhere. So the question is, what do you do? Have a separate racist country which is working which saves more people from tragedy or let mayhem rule?

basha,
December 8, 2013 11:23 PM

Johnathan, it is you who shows great vision, shame not all Jews accept their own failings... Mandela ran with the hares and hunted with the hounds when it came to Israel and the PLO.

Gloria J,
December 8, 2013 11:41 PM

people are not just blind, they are willfully blind

Jonathan you gave FACTS, but still many WANT to believe lies. Deception is proliferation and so is delusion

Anonymous,
December 10, 2013 6:29 AM

There's even more

He was originally imprisoned because of taking part in many, many terrorist activities. He was a trained lawyer and even admitted it. The South Africa that is left behind is one of the true murder and rape capitals of the world and a complete hellhole..

(7)
Marc Daniels,
December 8, 2013 6:44 PM

The Kabbalah Connection

Ten years of Kabbalah study in Israel leads me to believe that Nelson Mandela felt and act upon his perception of an upper world spiritual reality, in which hated would have be weed out in people's hearts and soul: A vivified fabric of society in which people would draw upon spiritual sustenance through their respective spiritual roots for surging life, liberty, and happiness to others would be as natural as completing the spiritual circuit. Mandela's critics called him a terrorist and a communist. I believe he was inspiring the masses to become spiritual guerilla gardeners to weed out hate for allowing spirits to rise into a pre-ordained community garden, Olam Ha Ba

Anonymous,
December 8, 2013 9:00 PM

Marc Daniels first learn Alph then Bais

Ten years? I hope the pillow was comfortable.

(6)
lauren inker,
December 8, 2013 5:50 PM

mandela

He was a great man. We need more like him. May his memory be for a blessing.

Anonymous,
December 8, 2013 9:16 PM

You mean we need more terrorists?

David S. Levine,
December 8, 2013 9:37 PM

What About His Hatred of Israel?

Well, what about it. Yes, the way he took over South Africa and assured the whites, including Jews, that they had nothing to fear from the government and then, like George Washington, gave up the Presidency certainly places him in the Pantheon of Great Men.

"True to his generous spirit, however, Mandela invited Yutar to lunch just months after being inaugurated as the South African president, and made a point of publicly shaking his hand"

Nope, no that one. How about:

"he again showed his greatness when in 1995 he attended a ceremony at the Oxford Synagogue in Johannesburg in honor of murdered Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin"

Maybe it's this one:

"He accepted Israel’s right to exist within the 1967 borders and also promoted a Palestinian state. Instinctively, though, he remained closer to Palestinians than Israelis, particularly given the close links during apartheid between the ANC and the PLO

Misinformed, maybe, but not "hostile". Let's keep reading:

His proposals were regarded as “simplistic” by both Israelis and Palestinians."

Umm, how's that different from other world leaders including our own?

Geoff, you of course know far more about South Africa's Jewish community than I ever will. But your article doesn't deliver on the subhead and leaves me confused, not enlightened.

Misinformed, maybe, but not "downright hostile". Let's keep going.

(4)
Frank Adam,
December 8, 2013 5:03 PM

Try some subtlety !

Mr Mandela might not understand the depths of the Arab vendetta on Israel but his outline understanding that two states for two separate nations is about as much as one can expect from an outsider.It is far more important to put such people on the spot by asking them how the propose to get the Arab parties to agree to their recommendations? Given the Arab parties have let slip or refused the two state solution six times inclusive their rejections of the 1937 Peel Report and UN 181 and non creation of a Palestine State in 1947 - 67.

(3)
Laurie,
December 8, 2013 4:56 PM

Excellent and informative article.

Very interesting and informative piece. It is easy for us as Jews to believe that we always choose a moral path, but our history is more complex. Many Jews risked their lives and freedom to stand with Mandela, but most accepted and benefitted from white privilege. We must also be willing to see that the inequities in Israel are also morally indefensible -- not dismiss the comparisons out of hand. We can all learn a great deal from Mandela's life and teaching.

(2)
barnett,
December 8, 2013 4:13 PM

sorry

Apart from all his greatness, it is like Desmond Tutu....an Anti-Semite

Anonymous,
December 8, 2013 9:40 PM

A South African MP's Declaration

It's time to republish the declaration of that South African MP who was courageous enough to stand up to the Left and write that Israel is no apartheid nation!

Anonymous,
December 9, 2013 11:40 AM

re letter #1

I'd very much like to read that declaration!

Lou,
December 9, 2013 12:52 PM

Kenneth Meshoe

I think that you are talking about former South African MP Kenneth Meshoe. See an article about him here http://unitedwithisrael.org/south-african-mp-israel-is-not-an-apartheid-state/ and look for his videos on YouTube.

(1)
Anonymous,
December 8, 2013 2:24 PM

Please do not compare!!

There is no parallel between Israel and South Africa during the apartheid period. With all due respect to Mandella, he had no understanding of the Israeli Arab conflict and we don't have to examine his views concerning it.

betty,
December 8, 2013 5:13 PM

I agree. No parallel at all. Two different worlds.

Anonymous,
December 8, 2013 7:03 PM

Mandela was invariably anti-Israel.

Dvirah,
December 8, 2013 7:57 PM

Reply to Anonymous

You are correct in that there is no parallel between Israel at any point since its inception and up to now and Apartheid South Africa or, for that matter, Segragationist USA (people seem never to remember that a similar, if less brutal condition existed in the US as well). But there is value in examining Mandela's views, since they are widely held - in order to know how to refute them.

I've been striving to get more into spirituality. But it seems that every time I make some progress, I find myself slipping right back to where I started. I'm getting discouraged and feel like a failure. Can you help?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Spiritual slumps are a natural part of spiritual growth. There is a cycle that people go through when at times they feel closer to God and at times more distant. In the words of the Kabbalists, it is "two steps forward and one step back." So although you feel you are slipping, know that this is a natural process. The main thing is to look at your overall progress (over months or years) and be able to see how far you've come!

This is actually God's ingenious way of motivating us further. The sages compare this to teaching a baby how to walk. When the parent is holding on, the baby shrieks with delight and is under the illusion that he knows how to walk. Yet suddenly, when the parent lets go, the child panics, wobbles and may even fall.

At such times when we feel spiritually "down," that is often because God is letting go, giving us the great gift of independence. In some ways, these are the times when we can actually grow the most. For if we can move ourselves just a little bit forward, we truly acquire a level of sanctity that is ours forever.

Here is a practical tool to help pull you out of the doldrums. The Sefer HaChinuch speaks about a great principle in spiritual growth: "The external awakens the internal." This means that although we may not experience immediate feelings of closeness to God, eventually, by continuing to conduct ourselves in such a manner, this physical behavior will have an impact on our spiritual selves and will help us succeed. (A similar idea is discussed by psychologists who say: "Smile and you will feel happy.")

That is the power of Torah commandments. Even if we may not feel like giving charity or praying at this particular moment, by having a "mitzvah" obligation to do so, we are in a framework to become inspired. At that point we can infuse that act of charity or prayer with all the meaning and lift it can provide. But if we'd wait until being inspired, we might be waiting a very long time.

May the Almighty bless you with the clarity to see your progress, and may you do so with joy.

In 1940, a boatload 1,600 Jewish immigrants fleeing Hitler's ovens was denied entry into the port of Haifa; the British deported them to the island of Mauritius. At the time, the British had acceded to Arab demands and restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine. The urgent plight of European Jewry generated an "illegal" immigration movement, but the British were vigilant in denying entry. Some ships, such as the Struma, sunk and their hundreds of passengers killed.

If you seize too much, you are left with nothing. If you take less, you may retain it (Rosh Hashanah 4b).

Sometimes our appetites are insatiable; more accurately, we act as though they were insatiable. The Midrash states that a person may never be satisfied. "If he has one hundred, he wants two hundred. If he gets two hundred, he wants four hundred" (Koheles Rabbah 1:34). How often have we seen people whose insatiable desire for material wealth resulted in their losing everything, much like the gambler whose constant urge to win results in total loss.

People's bodies are finite, and their actual needs are limited. The endless pursuit for more wealth than they can use is nothing more than an elusive belief that they can live forever (Psalms 49:10).

The one part of us which is indeed infinite is our neshamah (soul), which, being of Divine origin, can crave and achieve infinity and eternity, and such craving is characteristic of spiritual growth.

How strange that we tend to give the body much more than it can possibly handle, and the neshamah so much less than it needs!